Archive for the ‘Convention’ Category

The NAACP Scholarship Banquet in Tifton, Georgia, “advanced” me profoundly last night but then again, they say the hardheaded never learned. In college, we were too radical to be involved with this organization. It was all about Public Enemy’s lyrics like “Mandela..cell dweller…Thatcher, you should tell her.” In retrospect, the grassroots chapters of the NAACP have brought us from a mighty long way.

Rodney King was at my table. Not that Rodney King but a 20-year-old fellow who won’t hesitate to tell you about the good works of his church. Both Rodney Kings spent a lot of time in the hospital but this R.K. is employed a Tift Regional Hospital. When I told him that my mother was there last year for several weeks and that he was luck because that camp is “full,” he looked at me as if too say “I am protected my check rather than being concerned with that stuff on the job.”

Young people from King’s church served the food at the banquet while other young people sang and praised dance. Two young students from the community received scholarships and words of wisdom from Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham. Justice Benham told the audience that they were in the wrong place if they wanted to hear negative information about the community because he would be speaking about positive experiences. While he spoke, a slide show of Black history flashed images from the March on Washington to Little Rock to Medgar Evers to Obama speaking to the NAACP. Justice Benham remained us that the NAACP has been fighting the good fight for years. In his official capacity, he has ruled for and against the organization’s positions but he appreciated their efforts.

Justice Benham was introduced by a long-time friend of his who isn’t Black and several of the honorees weren’t Black. I remembered that Whites have always been involved in the NAACP. I also remember that like any organization the NAACP has local chapters that are as different as leaves on a tree (that is what Helen Blocker Adams says about the Augusta Tea Party events.) President Rev. L. Chris Solomon and the Tifton NAACP chapter seems to emphasis community improvement and encouraging the youth.

Since I am often alone, I thought I mastered taking cellphone pictures of myself—I had to get one with the anti-lynching slide. When I when to take a photo with Justice Benham, who told me he married an Albany State University grad, a women asked me why would I take a picture of myself when she could have the professional photographer do it. Again, the hardheaded never learn that some things require the help of others; it’s called community.

One of the honorees was a county commissioner with a long history of cleaning up the community street by street. I met her a dozen years ago and told her husband and her congrats on their civil efforts. Morehouse student Ambrose King help organize a fine program. With old friends at NAACP events and the other contributor on this blog speaking at Tea Parties, community involvement is happening while I am sitting at his keyboard….blogging.

In the Fall, Georgia should have a campaign visit from one or more of the Democrat Big Three: President Obama, President Bill Clinton or First Lady Michelle Obama. Where is my ticket or can I get the hook-up. The logical facility for this historic event would be the Macon Coliseum because Georgia is the biggest state this side of the Mississippi River and logistics can be a bear. My county, Worth County, is half the size of Rhode Island.

Macon would mean that Georgians could drive equal distances to the venue and the congressional districts that need a little Dem star power converge in that region (the 2nd, 8th and 12th districts.) The problem that the congressmen from the 2nd and 12th have nice relationships with the White House while Rep. Jim Marshall from Macon has chosen to go it alone.

In the early 90s, I was worked for the Democrat congressman who represented Augusta and Athens, and a visit to the district from Energy Secretary Hazel O’Leary was on the schedule. A reporter asked my boss if he wanted Bill Clinton to campaign with him in Georgia and the congressman said basically he would do his own campaign. O’Leary call our office and when on about “Bill is my friend and you don’t ask me to help you and disregard my friends.”

Secretary O’Leary is currently the president of Fisk University and is saving that historically rich Black college from the brink of closure. Fisk alumni include W.E.B. DuBois, Nikki Giovanni, Congressman Alcee Hastings, James Weldon Johnson, Congressman John Lewis, Mrs. Alma Powell and Secretary O’Leary. In 2005, the financial situation at Fisk was so dire that they considered selling artwork given to the school by painter Georgia O’Keeffe. If anyone can save Fisk for future generations, O’Leary is that person.

When the White House and the DNC consider where to dispatch the big guns, Macon should be at the top of the list. If not, Rep. Marshall must have said “no thanks”—a move that hurts the entire Dem ticket in Georgia. Albany State University or Fort Valley State University would host a big three event but the Georgia Dome will likely get the nod and Rep. Marshall will not think about being on that stage. They should send Hazel O’Leary to rap with him. “Look here…let me holler at you for a second, partner….you don’t ignore Bill nor this outstanding young couple in the White House. Keep this up and you will find yourself by yourself.”

Thunderstorms are immiment, but I’m still headed to the beautiful city of Savannah for the Georgia Republican Convention.

I’ve got my mini digital tape recorder, my note pad and plenty of business cards in an effort to meet and greet each of the Gubernatorial candidates, the Honorable J.C. Watts, Republican National Chairman Michael Steele, and Herman Cain. I’m expecting to hear and see a different tone that exudes diversity and open mindedness with an emphasis on re-energizing their core values. Let’s see what happens. Stay tuned for further updates throughout the weekend.

If you’re my Facebook friend, you can get the information much quicker.

Oh, and I intend to count the number of ‘people of color’ in attendance.